Arty Joe

Arty Joe sits in Whitley Bay, a proper independent gallery that feels like it matters to the people who run it. The space showcases local and contemporary artists - rotating exhibitions that actually make you stop and look rather than shuffle through feeling obligated.

It's the sort of place that works best if you're genuinely interested in visual art. Don't expect blockbuster names or major installations; this is community-focused work, often with real personality and regional flavour. You'll spend thirty minutes here comfortably, longer if something grabs you.

The gallery sits well within a coastal weekend at either Parkdean Resorts Whitley Bay Holiday Park (less than two miles away) or Old Hartley Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite up the road. Pair it with a walk along Whitley Bay's seafront - the promenade itself is worth the trip - and you've got a low-key afternoon sorted. Families with older kids who aren't gallery-averse will get something from it; young children will find it a bit of a squeeze unless they're already keen.

The real value is in the independence of it. Whitley Bay's got chain cafes and beach bars, but this gallery reminds you there's actual creative life happening in smaller coastal towns if you know where to look. It's not life-changing, but it's real.